Dropping the pen nib few centimeters high

[penmaster6969]

Hi. I was writing and holding my 823. It slip out of my hand and fall onto the surface of book in table top (the height is about 3 in or just few centimeters high). Do you think the nib was damaged or misaligned?

[Penguincollector]

  Do you have a magnifying glass? It’s easy to see any misalignment of the tines with one. There’s a certain angle that you tilt the pen nib so you can see the alignment. I can’t find the  link that illustrates this, hopefully someone else comes along to better explain it. 

[penmaster6969]

1 hour ago, Penguincollector said:

  Do you have a magnifying glass? It’s easy to see any misalignment of the tines with one. There’s a certain angle that you tilt the pen nib so you can see the alignment. I can’t find the  link that illustrates this, hopefully someone else comes along to better explain it. 

But does a drop of that level really can cause damage to the pen?

[Armo]

If it still writes smoothly it's ok, if misaligned it will feel scratchy, normally, when used in one direction. I don't imaging such a small drop will have done any harm. I've done far worse and got away with it.

[Penguincollector]

8 hours ago, penmaster6969 said:

But does a drop of that level really can cause damage to the pen?

  Any drop may cause damage, but the shorter the distance and the softer the landing, the less likelihood that it would. You should try writing with it. If it still feels like it did prior to the drop, your pen is probably fine.  You should buy a loupe and watch a few videos on nib alignment so that you know what to look for and how to fix any misalignment.

[Estycollector]

The chance of the toast falling with the jelly side down is directly proportional to the cost of the carpet. If you pen is an Esterbrook, no problem, if a MB, it will require a $500 repair. 

[inkstainedruth]

Yeah.  A couple of years ago I accidentally knocked the nib unit for one of my Pilot Decimos off the bathroom counter while I was flushing it out.  And the nib (rhodium plated 14K) got pretty mangled....  Fortunately I was able to get it worked on at a pen show and now it's pretty much as good as new (in fact, I was using it earlier this morning).

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

 

ETA: That was a fall of about 3 feet or so, and onto the tile floor, so considerably farther than 3"....   But Richard Binder was able to straighten it up nicely for me (it's actually the only nib where he hasn't sent me to someone he trained to work on).

[Estycollector]

I never clean out a pen in the bathroom. 

[inkstainedruth]

Well, I'm not going to be cleaning them in the kitchen sink....  Not doing that anywhere around food....

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[carola]

On 3/1/2025 at 5:34 PM, Estycollector said:

The chance of the toast falling with the jelly side down is directly proportional to the cost of the carpet. If you pen is an Esterbrook, no problem, if a MB, it will require a $500 repair. 

 

😆 Pretty much so.

 

I have dropped pens from higher than that. Chances are good there is no damage if the nib hasn´t landed in a very unfortunate angle on a very hard surface. But as was said before: Try it. The nib will tell you.

[lamarax]

"The chance of accidentally dropping a fountain pen on its nib and maiming it, is directly proportional to how much one cherishes it"  P(_↓) = V(♡) × ∞

 

-Murphy's law (don't ask me how I know...) 😶

[lamarax]

On 3/1/2025 at 6:34 PM, Estycollector said:

The chance of the toast falling with the jelly side down is directly proportional to the cost of the carpet.

 

A.k.a. the "Buttered toast phenomenon", a subset of unified Murphy's law.

[Estycollector]

Just now, lamarax said:

 

A.k.a. the "Buttered toast phenomenon", a subset of unified Murphy's law.

Yes, and a part of a list. For example, the Golden Rule of Arts and Science is, they who have the gold make the rules. Then, a person with one watch knows what time it is. A person with two is never quite sure. 

[lamarax]

11 minutes ago, Estycollector said:

For example, the Golden Rule of Arts and Science is, they who have the gold make the rules.

 

Believe me if I say, I know this rule firsthand...

 

[Estycollector]

18 minutes ago, lamarax said:

 

Believe me if I say, I know this rule firsthand...

 

😂